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in Egypt the imported berries “ semmaq ” (Del.), in Egyptian “ routhin” (Kirch.) ; in which we
recognize the POYi prescribed by Euryphon 2 morb. 28, — mentioned also by Antiphanes, Alexis,
by Theophrastus iii. iS. 5 as having conjugate elm-like leafets, by Dioscorides, Galen voc. hippoc.,
the “■ rous suriakos ” in Geopon. xvi. 8, and “ soumakin ” by Nicolaus Myrepsicus i. 155 : R. coriaria
was observed by Sibthorp, Chaubard, and Fraas, from the Peloponnesus to Constantinople and
Smyrna ; by Pococke, and rabbi Schwarz, in Palestine ; and the imported berries, used in cookery as
well as in medecine, were seen in Egypt by Abd-allatif, Forskal mat. med. p. 150, and Delile.
Westward, the “ rhus ” and “ rhus syriacum” are mentioned by Celsus, Columella xii. 41, Pliny,
and Macer Floridus: R. coriaria is termed “ r. folio ulmi ” by Tournefort inst. 611 ; was observed
by Lenz frequent on the Appenines ; and is known to grow as far as Southern France (Ludw. pi. 122,
Pers., and Spreng.).
Chlora perfoliata of Europe and the adjoining portion of Asia. A gentianaceous plant called in
Old English earth-gall ox more centory (Askham, and Prior) ; and the KENTAYPION or KENTAY
PIHS; KAPPON prescribed by Euryphon 2 morb. 52 to 57 — may be compared : the “ këntquriSn ”
is described by Theophrastus iii. 3. 6 to iv. 5. i. and caus. iii. i. 3 as barren in the Elean plain but
bearing fruit on the neighbouring mountains, growing also in Northern climates, but not in wet
g round ;, the “ pëlëthrôniôn ” according to Nicander ther. 440 to 505 is yellow-flowered; and the
“ këntauriôn xanthion ” is prescribed by Ale.xander Trallianus viii. 12. 11 : C. perfoliata was observed
by Sibthorp, and Chaubard, frequent from the Peloponnesus throughout the Greek islands. Westward,
the “ centaurea major” of Macer Floridus 53 is referred here by Lynacre, who further speaks
of its “ leves lyke to the lesse centory, but more whyter, and yelowe flowers, and flowreth not but in
the top ; ” and “ eorth geallan ” or “ curmelle seo mare ” occurs in the Anglo-Saxon translation of
Apuleius herb. 35 : C. perfoliata is de.scribed by Morison ; is termed “ centaurium Iuteum perfoliatum ”
by Tournefort inst. 123 ; was observed by Desfontaines in Barbary ; and is known to grow throughout
middle Europe as far as Britain (Hall., Engl. bot. pl. 60, and Pers.). Its qualities according to
Smith are similar to those of Gentiana and Erytliræa but weaker (Lindl.).
Salvia pomifera of the East Mediterranean countries. A species of wild sage bearing edible
galls and called in Greece “ pha sk os” or “ phaskômëlia” (Sibth.) or “ alisphakia ” (Fraas), in
Egyptian “ apôusi ” (Syn. Diosc.) ; and the EAEAIS4 AK0 N prescribed by Euryphon 2 morb. 52, —■
, allied to but having rougher leaves than the “ sphakos” according to Theophrastus vi. t. 4 to 2. 5,growing
according to Dioscorides in rugged places, a tallish branchy shrub with whitish leaves, strongly
fragrant, may be compared: S. pomifera is termed “ s. cretica frutescens pomifera foliis longioribus
incanis et c risp is” by Tournefort trav. i. pi. 30 ; was observed by Sibthorp, Chaubard, and Fraas,
frequent in rugged sunny places from Crete and the Peloponnesus throughout Greece and the Greek
islands, and tea made of the leaves ; is known to grow also in Syria (Pers.). Westward, the
“ ëlëlisphakôn ” or “ ëlaphôvôskôn ” or “ kiôsmin ” or “ phagnôn ” or “ vehion ” is identified in Syn.
Diosc. with the “ kôsalôn” or “ sa lv ia ” of the Romans; and the “ altera bechion” resembling
“ verbasco ” (transl. “ phlômis ” .?) and by some called “ salvia ” is enumerated by Pliny xxvi. 17 as
medicinal. “ S. triloba,” termed “ s. baccifera” by Tournefort inst. 180 and “ s. cretica pomifera
Clusii flore albo ” cor. 10, is regarded by Fraas as not distinct,
Amaracus diciamnus of Crete. Called in English drug-shops dittany o f Crete (Lindl,), in
Italian gardens “ dittamo crético ” or “ dittamo di candia ” (Lenz), on Crete “ stômatôhôrtôn ” (Sibth ) ;
in which we recognize the AIKTAMNO? of Euryphon— (Soran. Eph. mul. 22), the Flippocratic
writings, Aristotle an. ix. 16, peculiar to Crete and rare there according to Theophrastus ix. 16. i,
mentioned also by Antigonus of Carystus, Andromachus, Damocrates, and known to Virgil, aen. xii. 412,
Dioscorides, and Pliny x.xv. 53, as growing only on Crete : A. dictamnus is described by Dodoens
pl. 281 (Spreng.) ; is termed “ o. creticum latifolium tomentosum seu dictamnus creticus” by Tournefort
inst. 199; and was observed by Sibthorp only on the rocks of Crete. Imported “ dictamnus
cretensis ” was found by Alpinus, and Forskal mat. med., employed medicinally in Eg yp t: farther
North, according to Lindley, was “ once in much repute among the Greeks and Romans but not
now used.”
Ir is Florentina of the Mediterranean countries. The imported root is called in Britain orris-root
(Lindl.), in Germany “ veilchenwurz ” (Fraas), and perforated pill-like fragments in Egypt “ hab el
kei ” (Forsk. mat. med.) ; in which we recognize the IPIS: lAAYPIKHof Euryphon— (Soran. Eph.
mul. 22), 2 Mul. morb. 673, Dromo, the only spice according to Theophrastus iv, 5. 2 and ix. 7. 3
that Europe produces, growing of the best quality in Illyria and about the Adriatic : “ irinôn murôn ”
is mentioned by Cephisodorus; the fragrant-rooted “ ir is ” is mentioned also by Didymus, Dioscorides,
Athenaeus, is prescribed by Galen, and Paulus Aegineta, and the cultivation of “ iris illurikë” is
mentioned in geopon. xi. 21 : I. Florentina w-as observed by Sibthorp, and Chaubard, from the
Peloponnesus to Rhodes. Westward, the “ i r is ” or “ iris illurikë” is identified in Syn. Diosc. with
the “ rathix marika” or “ ôpërtritôs” or “ kônsëkratrix ” of the Romans; and the “ iris” and
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“ unguentum irinum” are mentioned by Columella, and Pliny: I. Florentina is described by Lobel
pl. 59 ; is te rm ed“ !, alba florentina ” by Tournefort inst. 358; was observed by Desfontaines in
Barbary, by Savi in Italy (Steud.), and is known to grow in other parts of Southern Europe (Pers.).
The root according to Lindley is “ subacrid, aromatic, rather bitter,” is “ employed iu the manufacture
of tooth-powder,” and “ to keep up the discharge from issues.”
“ 415 B. C.” (Thucyd. vi. 30, Clair, and Clint.), the statues of Mercury mysteriously mutilated
or thrown down at Athens, just as the Athenian fleet sailed for Sicily.
The metal mercury or quicksilver may have been at this time introduced into Greece : — “ kinnav
a r ” (an Indian word according to Pliny) is mentioned by Ctesias, and Anaxandrides, and notwithstanding
its alleged discovery by Callias ( “ 90 yrs before Praxibulus = 405, Theophr. lap. 8.) is
admitted to be Chinese vermilion; “ tig gav a ri” is mentioned by D iod es the comic poet, and
Eustathius; “ arguron huton to move images,” by Eubulus, Philippus, Aristotle psych, i. 3, and
Theniistius ; and “ uthrargurös’” (a translation of its Chinese name “ shwui yin” water-silver), by
Plautus, Vitruvius, Dioscorides, Pliny, and Galen. Quicksilver is mentioned also by Arab medical
writers ; but in the days of Forskal mat. med., “ durur ahmar ” or “ cinnab. nativum ” was imported
into Egypt from Greece. (See “ kinnamömön,” and “ minium ” ).
“ 414 B. C.” (Clint, ii. p. 87, = 538— “ 124 years ” of the Egyptian Chronicle), independence
recovered by the Egyptians ; their leader Amurtëôs or Amurtaiös becoming the head of the Twenty-
eighth or Saite dynasty. The hieroglyphic ovals of king Amunrut occur on contemporaneous monuments
(Leps. k. pl. 49).
As early probably as this date, the “ kônëiôn ” poison, composed in part of the juice of
“ mëkônôs ” and inducing death without pain, invented or made known to the Greeks by Thrasyas
of Mantinea. — His pupil Alexias lived shortly before the time of Theophrastus ix. 16.8. The
“ kônëiôn” poison was employed to put Socrates to death; is mentioned also by Androcydes,
Nicander,. and Anaxilaus.
Oenanthe proliféra oi the East Mediterranean countries. A species of hemlock-dropwort : the
“ kônëiôn” employed by Thrasyas was that of Susa and cool places, — was obtained strongest from
the root, and the plant is further alluded to by Theophrastus ix. 8. 3 to 15. 8 and 16. 8 ; is described
by Dioscorides as having a great stem and terminal umbels o f whitish flowers with “ apôphusëis ”
(sprouts or bracts); is identified in the added Synonyms with the “ vav ath u ” of Osthanes, and
Egyptian “ apëmphin ; ” O. proliféra is termed “ oe. proliféra apula” by Tournefort inst. 313 ; was
observed by Sibthorp in the marshes of Lycia in Asia Minor ; and is known to grow as far as Sicily
and the Southern extreme of Italy (Pers.).
Oenanthepimpinelloides of the Mediterranean countries. Called in Italy “ filipendula aquatica”
(Lenz), in Greece “ sgarantzi” (S ib th .); and the species of Oenanthe being according to Fée all
dangerous poisons, perhaps included in the “ kônëiôn” in question,— produced in the days of
Dioscorides in Cilicia, Chios, Crete, and Attica : O. pimpinelloides was observed by Sibthorp, and
Chaubard, from Lycia and the Peloponnesus to Constantinople. Westward, is termed “ ce. apii folio ”
by Tournefort inst. 312; is known to grow in Carniolia, Italy, and Southern France (Hacq. earn. pl.
3, Jacq. austr. pl. 394, Pers., and Lenz). Its “ fleshy tubercles” according to Lindley “ have
occasionally been eaten.”
Oenanthepeucedanifolia of Europe and the adjoining portion of Asia. Also having claims to be
included in the “ kônëiôn ” in question, — though the roots “ have occasionally been eaten ” (Pers.,
and Lindl.) : observed by Sibthorp in marshes in the Peloponnesus ; by Gmelin, in Siberia (Steud ) ;
and Westward, known to grow in Austria and France (Pollich palat. i. pl. 3, Thuil., and Steud.).
Oenanthe incrassata, observed by Chaubard in the Peloponnesus, and O. virgata by Guerin
among maritime rocks there, are other species that have been found in Greece.
“ The same year ” (Sm. b. d.), at Rome, military tribunes having consular power holding the
place of consuls ; war with the Aequians, and Bola a city of Latium captured by the Romans.
“ In this or the following year ” (Sm. b. d.), Perdiccas I I. succeeded by Archel us, now twelfth
king of Macedonia.
“ 413, August 27th, Monday” (Thucyd., Blair, and Clint.), eclipse o f the moon, “ about thirteen
digits,” beginning at Syracuse “ 8 h. 27 m. 27 s. p.m. ; ” and causing the loss in Sicily of the terrified
Athenian army under Nicias.
Some days later at Athens (Aristot., Athen., and Clint), exhibition of parody by its inventor the
comic poet Hegemon : news arriving of the disaster in Sicily, the Athenians kept their seats.
“ 412 B. C .” (Thucyd. viii. 12 to 17, and Clint.), Alcibiades sent by the Spartans into Asia, and
the first treaty between them and the Persians.
“ 411 B. C.” (Thucyd. viii. 12 to 17, and Clint ), constitution of the “ Four hundred,” devised by
Antiphon, and adopted at Athens. After ruling “ four months,” the “ Four hundred ” resigned ; and
before the close of the year, Antiphon was put to death. The historical writings of his pupil
Thucydides, close with the “ autumn of tliis year.”
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